Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-11-11
BEN FRANKLIN.
Sketch of the Home and the Grave Of Ameri-
cas- Philosopher and Diplomat.

cas- Philosopher and Diplomat.
The most prominent citizen of Phila-
delphia and of the foremost of the new
born republic, was slowly dying, but still
IN the harness of public affairs, exactly
century ago, says The Philadelphia
Times. He had come to the city an OBJ
scure apprentice lad, with neither money
nor influence behind him. A hundred
years ago he had welded q tremendous
influence in the history of the newborn
nation as well as in the local affairs of
the town and province. Before he was
80 be had, by marvellous industry, unhag
ging energy, and singular diplomacy
made himself one of the first men of the
town. There could not be more amaz-
ing example of success resulting from
simple industry. His printing office, his
newspaper, his bookstore, his almanac,
his public and private contracts must
have made tremendous demands upon his
time when he was only % years old, and
yet he squeezed leisure enough out OF
every twenty-four hours to learn to read
French, italian, Spanish and Latin.
But Franklin's life and characteristics
are familiar already to every Philadel-
phian, if not every American. The pur
pose is now to bring up picture Of
what he was in 1887 and 1888, and the
bearing of his work upon the framing of
the constitution.
Franklin had been chosen one of the
members of the constitutional convention
for Pennsylvania, with the expectation
that, III case Washington persisted IN his
refusal to serve, Franklin would be
chosen to preside over its deliberations.
When Washington, who had consented to
be a member of the convention, reached
Philadelphia after his hard journey from
Mount Vernon, re found that few other
delegates had arrived and for some time
the convention did nothing but adjourn
from day to day, awaiting a quorum.
During this period Washington and other
members were frequently at Franklin's
house, and rare old gatherings they must
have been. Franklin himself, writing of
one of them in letter, records the fact
that one evening he opened barrel OF
porter, Just arrived from England, which
''met with most cordial reception and
and universal appreciation" Che great
American philosopher was at this time
81 years old, and was already suffering
from the physical inirmities that caused
his death in 1890. But he concealed his
pain when it afflicted him, and Is describ
ed as always afable end witty. Hi.
friends remarked then that the walk from
his house to the state-house would do bin
good, and he wrote to his sister in Goston
expressing the same belief. Neyerthe-
less, Franklin was not able to attend the
first session of the CONVENTION. When
he did attend, ne was unable to stand on
his feet for more than few moments at
time. His speeches, therefore, were
rrx-,-
them, however, in the notes of the con
vention, ard Ibis .is ascribed to his writ
ing them out in full for the benefit of the
record.
Franklin did not have to walk far to
reach the state-houss. His own house
stood then in the center of an open lot
about one hundred feet wide, that ran
from Chestnut to Market street, half way
between Third and Fourth streets. The
house faced toward Chestnut, bat the en-
trance was from Market strset. for the
reason that the Chestnut street end of the
10. was not owned by Franklin An alley,
ten feet wide, called Franklin court, ex-
tended from Market staees TO the rear of
the house. The residence was of plain
brick. three stories high, about forty by
fifty feet, with q wide hallway through the
csnter.
One of FrsnkIin's callers during the
time the convention was in session was
Rev. Manasseh Cutler, of Massachusetts,, !
Who describes him az q short, fat old
man in plain Quaker dress, bald pate
and short, white socks, sitting without his
hat, under the tree His voice was Low.
but his counfenance open, frank. and /
pleasing Among other things with !
which Franklin entertained this visitor |
was q tvo-headsd snake preserved in al